Tag: Natasha Medbury

THIS week’s semi-finals will undoubtedly see the best of the best duel one last time before the ultimate battle. Palmerston’s loss against Waratah was painful, but now they face the Southern Districts. The Pies have beaten the Crocs twice this season, but the Crocs are coming off a high after smashing the Saints. In the afternoon, Waratah will meet Darwin for another classic bout. The Warriors are heavy favourites for this match, and with the Buffs’ extended injury list, it is easy to see why.

Southern Districts somehow find themselves in St Marys’ shoes at the moment, having met Palmerston twice this season and lost on both occasions. For the Crocs to win they must use every opportunity and advantage they have to deny the Pies the ball. the Districts’ first advantage lies in their ruck stocks. Ebony Miller and Indy Sleeth will make sure their hit-outs give their midfielders first use of the ball. Meanwhile, Jessica Stassi and Natasha Medbury will help to control the clearances. If things get dire, Miller and Sleeth can simply punch the ball forward to gain ground.

Crocs forwards must put Billie Byers inside 50 or she will rebound the ball like it was never there. If Tayla Thorn can get off to the start she had last week, it may set the perfect foundation for the Districts to rise from. Rhiannon Busch is a proven goal kicker and has had a stellar couple of weeks, while Charles Deegan, though recently getting extra attention from defenders, is always dangerous around goals.

On the other side of the field, Shenaida Bush and Freda Puruntatameri are starting to click. This could prove very damaging to the Crocs as both are very quick and deadly accurate. Lateesha Jeffrey and the Districts backline will have a tough task keeping this pair quiet. If they can, it could prove the difference between victory and defeat.

Palmerston will walk into this match favorites, but Southern Districts may give the Pies a shock in this heavyweight bout of the Semi-Finals.

Darwin’s tactics last week may have beaten Pint, but it will not do against Waratah. The Warriors have 15 premiership players returning for this match and no amount of waiting this team out will help the Buffs. The Buffettes have to go for broke and, missing key players in the midfield and forward line, they may have to mix it up. If Dominique Carbone starts in the centre of the ground, it will free up Machaelia Roberts to push forward. Darwin’s forward line looks completely different when Roberts has the opportunity to cause defenders headaches. This leaves Carbone, Jemma Iacono, and Kylie Duggan to tackle Lisa Roberts, Madeline Gault and Alysha Healy in the midfield, which could go either way.

The Buffettes cannot allow Waratah to dominate the clearances. Amy Chittick is the league’s leading goal kicker and now has Lauren O’Shea for assistance. If the Warriors’ forwards get a taste of blood, they will swarm the Buffs’ backline and devastate the scoreboard.

Waratah also has a player similar to Roberts in Sherayn Puruntatameri. She pushed out from half-back last week to bag three majors. Puruntatameri is an X-factor player, which makes her a difficult match-up for Darwin. Celina Whan might be the Buffs’ best choice for Puruntatameri if she plays down back.

Waratah could easily turn this into an ugly game, but perhaps the rivalry will spur the Buffs to challenge the champions.

IT IS finally here, week one of the NTFL Women’s finals will take place today with three exciting games of footy. Despite earlier reports of a top-five finals series, it will be a top-six competition like the previous year, meaning St Marys will go at least one more round.

The first match will kick off with the heavyweights Palmerston taking on the reigning premiers Waratah. This game will serve as a qualifying match as both teams are looking to grab bragging rights early. Up next the Southern Districts will face off against St Marys in the first elimination final. The Crocs have dished out a hiding to the Saints twice this season, but anything can happen in finals. Lastly, the Darwin Buffettes will meet Pint in the final elimination game. The Buffs have been wounded by the loss of key players this year, so will have to dig deep to beat the Queen Ants who are at full fitness.

The Magpies had an average start to the season, but now they look dangerous. This side of youth mixed with experience is sure to give the Warriors a run for their money.

The midfield of both teams is nothing short of classy. Lisa Roberts, Alysha Healy, and Madeline Gault meet Natasha Medbury, Jessica Stassi, and Tabitha May, which should prove to be a classic battle. Waratah ruck, Joanna Kolodziej may dictate in terms of the hit-outs as she has done for most of the year. If the Warriors win the clearances, Amy Chittick and Lauren O’Shea could wreak havoc on the scoreboard. Fortunately for the Magpies, forward, Lisa Mecli has been missing in action. Billie Byers and Jessie Brock might be the perfect matchup against Waratah’s dynamic duo.

As for Palmerton’s forwards, there is no shortage of talent. Freda Puruntatemeri has danced around the best defenders all year. Her speed and skill are well complemented by teammate Shenaida Bush. This pair of speed demons will need a unique opposition to stop them. Puruntatemeri v Puruntatemeri could be Waratah’s answer while Sharona Bishop keeps an eye on Bush. The game could go either way, but one thing is certain, this is the game to watch this Saturday.

This will be an uphill battle for the Saints, with the Districts having crushed the Saints on two separate occasions this season. Charles Deegan and Taylor Thorn have used their size and speed to run St Marys’ defenders off their legs in the past. Lori Niven and Courtney Webb will need a well-organised backline to contain this problem. The ruck area of the game is where the Districts thrive, with the combination of Ebony Miller and Indy Sleeth better than most teams. Their tap work and ability to cover the ground is a class above the rest. Saints rovers, Natasha Dunn-Richards and Simone Garner may need to shark the tap-outs if their rucks aren’t up to the challenge.

Up forward the Saints have a gun and an issue. The gun is Alana Coombes, who looks to be their most damaging forward, while the problem is Districts’ Lateesha Jeffrey. Her leadership down back has created a solid defense for the Crocs and only the fastest forwards can break it down. Unlike some of Coombes’ partners in attacking 50, they lack the speed she has in spades. The Crocs could not be more favoured to win this match, and on paper they seem to have more talent across the board than St Marys. History looks likely to repeat itself this Saturday unless a miracle happens, so the Saints will be hoping for one.

The Buffs have no Brittany Ward, no Tikesea Docherty-Cole, no Jasmine Anderson and no Nicky Anderson, meaning Pint has a huge advantage considering they are going into this match with a full strength team. Machaelia Roberts and Kylie Duggan have been dominant in the centre of the ground, however players like Jemma Iacono and young gun Domonique Carbone need to lift if they want to get the job done. Pint’s Cassie Henderson, Samantha Barnett, and Katie Streeder play as a cohesive unit.

Darwin’s forward line power has been missing over the last few weeks as Celina Whan seems to be carrying the load in attacking 50. Leading goal scorer, Meredith Turner has kicked no majors in her last three games, so will need to produce goals against a strong Pint defense which is no easy task. Queen Ant defender, Erin Hetherington can make life difficult for the Buffs’ forward if the midfield entries aren’t clean. Meanwhile, the Queen Ants forwards have been performing well. Danielle Suddaby has become the new spearhead with the support of Emma Greaves who is in fine form. Add to that talent with Kristen Smidts and Ellie Ryan, the Queen Ants wear a decent crown inside their 50.

Pint has the fitness but Darwin has the experience. It is hard to pick a winner here, but it should be a tight contest.

THAT is a wrap for the home and away season as we look to finals this week, but first, we take a look at Round 18’s action. The Southern Districts cruised passed Nightcliff in another win plagued with scoring inaccuracy. Palmerston dominated against the Wanderers, with the Magpies looking a cut above the rest as they get ready for Waratah on Saturday. The Warriors are also ready for the Pies after brushing off Darwin with ease. The last match of the round saw the Queen Ants crawl over the Saints. Pint is more ready than ever take on the Buffettes this Saturday.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 1.3 I 1.4 I 4.4 I 5.8 (38)
NIGHTCLIFF 0.1 I 0.1 I 1.1 I 1.2 (8)

A dominant display by the Crocs should have seen more reward for their efforts, with scoring inaccuracy plaguing the Southern Districts all year. Charlie Deegan was the tip of the spear in the forward line early in the season, easing off and producing single majors over the last three matches. Tayla Thorn has been lively but seems to play the role of hit-up forward rather than a full forward, while Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill booted three goals last Saturday in her fifth match. Perhaps she can provide some much-needed firepower against St Marys. As for the Tigers, it’s all over with another wooden spoon to finish a disappointing year.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES 7.4 I 14.7 I 20.11 I 22.15 (147)
WANDERERS 2.0 I 3.0 I 4.1 I 6.1 (37)

Tabitha May, Janet Baird, Billie Byers, Natasha Medbury and Michaeline Brown dominated on field against the Eagles, with the Eagles struggling under the forceful forward play of the Magpies. This game was an impossible obstacle for the Wanderers as they ended the season with a big loss. In comparison, the Magpies will be looking forward to facing the reigning premiers this weekend. For once Waratah may be the underdog.

WARATAH 3.1 I 3.1 I 4.5 I 6.6 (42)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 0.1 I 2.1 I 2.1 I 4.4 (28)

Although not as entertaining as their last match, Waratah still has the goods of the Buffs. Veteran, Lisa Roberts was outstanding, kicking two goals and covering the ground with nothing but class. Sharona Bishop held up well in defense with Alicia Stanley, while Alysha Healy stood up in the midfield. The Buffs are a different tale as they seem to be missing players left right and centre as they head into finals. The reigning premiers will face a huge challenge against Palmerston but Darwin will also have their hands full with Pint.

A good start for Pint made the Saints chase their tails all day. Emma Greaves had her kicking boots on with three, while her partner in crime Danielle Suddaby kicked two. Cassie Henderson and Samantha Barnett had a standard day of brilliance as the midfield domination saw Pint control the clearances. Now Pint has every chance of knocking out the Buffs come Saturday. The Saints have a much more difficult task. St Marys may have made finals, but the Crocs have haunted them all year with devastating defeats.

THIS is it, the home and away season is coming to an end this weekend in Round 18. Nightcliff belted the Eagles last week but even with their dominant performance, they could not escape the bottom of the ladder. It may stay that way when the Southern Districts look for a win as they take on the Tigers on Saturday morning. At noon fans will get to see the Grand Final Replay as Waratah and Darwin will face off at Gardens Oval. The evening will be a tune-up match for highly ranked Palmerston as they play against the Wanderers. On Sunday Pint will face the Saints as the Queen Ants prepare for finals. As for Tracy Village, they have the bye which puts their season to an end early.

Last week the Crocs were missing a few stars in Tahlia Holtze and Tayla Thorn. This Saturday they may be managed ahead of finals as the Southern Districts face the bottom team on the ladder, Tigers. Nightcliff was impressive last week against the Wanderers, but the Crocs are a far superior team to the Eagles. The Tigers will look to Emma-Lou Wolsey and Shantel Miskin-Ripa in order to slow the Districts’ backline.

WARATAH V DARWIN BUFFETTES
Saturday, February 16 12:00pm
Gardens Oval

Another classic bout between Waratah and Darwin would normally see an entertaining duel. However, the Buffettes have had a run of average matches against higher ladder teams. Tikesa Docherty-Cole is still missing from the side, meaning their forward line pressure is coming in waves. Kylie Duggan, Machaelia Roberts, and Celina Whan have been outstanding for the Buffs, but the rest of the team will need to step up to challenge Waratah. Waratah is a different story, as most of their players haven’t missed a beat.

The Wanderers will finally see an end to a disappointing season, while Palmerston can cement their spot in second place with a win. Natasha Medbury, Jessica Stassi and Tabitha May are likely to prove too strong for the Eagles midfield, while forwards Freda Puruntatameri and Shenaida Bush have proved a deadly combination of late. As for the Eagles, it’s all about rebuilding from here. However, the Eagles will want to push the Magpies in their final game of the season.

PINT V ST MARYS
Sunday, February 17 2:00pm
MCG

Pint has waited out some of the best teams due to their strong defense in the past few weeks, but this round they will want to boost their percentage. Cassie Henderson has had a fine season for Pint and looks likely to take home the club Best and Fairest. Ellie Ryan has been solid up front, while Erin Hetherington has been classy down back. St Marys has nothing to lose as they remain out of finals contention, but Alana Coombes may pop up for a few goals to end her season.

ROUND 17 is here and with only two weeks to go in the competition, Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) fans are in for a treat. Palmerston is arguably the in-form team of the competition and after St Marys’ heavy loss last weekend, the Pies will walk in heavy favourites. The main event will follow when the Southern Districts meet Pint in a test to see if the Queen Ants can push the Crocs to their limit. On Sunday another intriguing battle will ensue with Nightcliff coming up against the Wanderers. It will be a battle of pride between the two teams and should prove entertaining for die-hard fans who need a win. Lastly, Tracy Village will host Waratah at home. Waratah has been the unstoppable machine for many years and it looks like history is about to repeat itself.

ST MARYS V PALMERSTON MAGPIESSaturday, February 9 10:30amTIO Stadium

It was a tough pill to swallow for St Marys as they were performing very well up until last week when they got fed to the Crocs. They will face an even tougher adversary in Palmerston who have an elite squad of young talent. Billie Byers has been a revelation down back, as Tabitha May continues to dominate the Pies midfield while Freda Puruntatameri has become an elite goalsneak. On the other side of the coin, Alana Coombes is no slouch, nor Katherine Dann up forward. However, the loss of Danielle Ponter has left a huge hole in St Marys’ midfield. This is the area of the ground where the Magpies are the complete opposite, with Natasha Medbury and Jessica Stassi likely to prove to be a handful when the game starts. The Saints will need to produce their best to win, but nothing is impossible.

PINT V SOUTHERN DISTRICTSSaturday, February 9 12:00pmTIO Oval No.2

Pint has hit their strides at the right time, but this week will face the Crocs in a match that should test the Queen Ants. Southern Districts has found a new spearhead in Rhiannon Busch who bagged four majors last week. But she was not alone as Tayla Thorn and Tahlia Holtze combined to destroy St Marys’ defense. Pint’s backline gun Erin Hetherington will need strong support from her fellow defenders to stop the trio. Defence is not the only concern for Pint, as the Crocs have a unique duo that feeds their rovers well. The ruck combination of Indy Sleeth and Ebony Miller gives the Crocs another huge advantage in this match. In order to negate this, Cassie Henderson, Samantha Barnett, and Samantha Freeman may need to shark the hit-outs and take control of the centre. If they accomplish this, the door will open up for forwards, Emma Greaves and Danielle Saddaby.

NIGHTCLIFF V WANDERERSSunday, February 10 10:00amPSC BM Oval

There is no finals on the horizon for either of these teams in the coming weeks, with both sides struggling this season. Last week the Wanderers accepted an exhibition match to play against the Central Australian Pinktails. They were overwhelmed as the future talent shone against the Eagles. The Tigers were no different against against reigning premiers, Waratah. This is easily the most even match of the round, with the skill level of both sides seeming to be at a similar level. Arthurina Moreen has been the go-to forward for the Eagles, and could be in for a day out if her team can get the upperhand.

WARATAH V TRACY VILLAGESSunday, February 10 2:00pmTracy Village

Kristy Irvine and Zhoe Clarke should take a bow, as even in poor circumstances they have battled consistently through wins and losses. They are without a doubt the true champions of Tracy Village. Waratah, on the other hand, has no shortage of champions. Lately, however, a trio of Warriors forwards have become the ultimate scoreboard contributors. Lisa Miceli, Amy Chittick, and Lauren O’Shea are all ranked in the top three goal kickers of the league, each tallying a minimum of 18 goals – in reality, they are every defender’s worst nightmare. Tracy Village’s backline will be in serious strife if Waratah gets a rhythm going.

IN three weeks it is finals time but for now, it’s the perfect opportunity for the elite teams to tune-up and get ready. Last week the Darwin Buffettes got a rude awakening from St Marys, this Saturday they will need to regain their composure against an in-form Pint. The battle of first vs last will follow as Nightcliff take on the reigning premiers Waratah.

Up next, the Palmerston Magpies will get a chance to flex their muscles against Tracy Village. With the Razorbacks’ current form, the Pies will head in heavy favourites. On Sunday morning it is do or die for St Marys when they meet an angry Southern Districts. The Crocs suffered their worst defeat of the year last Monday, so will be eager to bring order back to the side and crush St Marys’ finals hopes in their upcoming match.

DARWIN BUFFETTES V PINT

Saturday February 2, 11:00am

Gardens Oval

If Pint secure this win they are a guarantee for finals regardless of other outcomes. Queen Ants, Cassi Henderson, Samantha Barnett, and Katie Streader should be well rested from the bye in round 15, while the once dominant midfield of Darwin has looked in trouble in recent weeks. Kylie Duggan and Machaelia Roberts seem to be shouldering most of the load while other stars are either injured or down on form. DominiqueCarbone will need to step up in order to fill the void and strengthen their resolve. Up forward, Celina Whan has become the spearhead for the Buffs as she continues to perform despite the losses. Whan may prove the difference this week as Darwin need to escape their current rut.

WARATAH V NIGHTCLIFF

Saturday February 2, 12:30pm

TIO Stadium

With only a few games left Nightcliff will have pride on the line. This match could not be any more one-sided, with the likes of Warratah stars, Amy Chittick, Lisa Miceli, Lisa Roberts, Madeline Gault, Lauren O’Shea taking the field. There have been glimpses of skill when Nightcliff were supported by Adelaide Crows draftees, but have struggled to have a consistent star from their main line-up. This match will be streamed live on YouTube, so hopefully the broadcast will spark the Tigers into action as they head towards the end of the season.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES V TRACY VILLAGE

Saturday February 2, 2:00pm

TIO Oval

The Palmerston Magpies have beaten the odds this season, with ladder leaders Southern Districts, Waratah, Darwin Buffettes and Pint all falling to the mighty Magpies. Pies stars Jessica Stassi, Tabitha May, and Natasha Medbury sent a statement to the rest of the competition when they broke the Crocs back on Australia Day. Shenaida Bush and Freda Puruntatemeri have also formed a dangerous combination in Palmerston’s forward line. This will be hard for Tracy to combat as the Razorbacks have struggled of late. Kristi Irvine is impressing, but the high injury list is taking its toll.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V ST MARYS

Sunday February 3, 10:00am

Norbuilt Oval

The Crocs were disappointing with their last performance. The late byes and Tracy Village forfeit has clearly caught up to the Crocodiles and affected their form. The Crocs only managed one goal last week – Tahlia Holtze – while forwards Charles Deegan and Tayla Thorn failed to kick through the big sticks. Crocs leader, Lateesha Jeffrey will want to see a colossal effort against St Marys. However, the Saints will be no pushovers with Alana Coombes always dangerous up forward and Laelia Dunn a star against the Buffettes. The Saints are fighting for their season on Sunday – if the Saints lose there is no tomorrow, but if Pint defeats Darwin then St Marys is out of the finals race regardless.

WITH Australia Day weekend coming up, the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League competition will see three days of football. On Saturday, Waratah meets the Eagles at Gardens Oval. The Warriors destroyed Pint last weekend and looks to repeat the same efforts against the Wanderers. On Sunday, Nightcliff battles Tracy Village, followed by Darwin coming up against St Marys. The Razorbacks should be hungry after their previous withdrawal while Darwin seeks redemption after its loss to the Pies. Monday sees titans clash with the Southern Districts and Palmerston Magpies facing off. The Magpies have been knocking off top teams left and right and the Crocs look like the only team that can stop them.

WARATAH V WANDERERS

Saturday January 26, 12:00pm

Gardens Oval

In previous matches, the Eagles have been blown away by the ladder leaders. Waratah’s forwards, Lisa Miceli, Sue Nalder, Amy Chittick, and Lauren O’Shea could all top the goal kicking tally if they get off to a good start. Then there’s the Warriors backline that forms up a wall of intercept markers. Lisa Roberts and Sharona Bishop will make it very difficult for the Wanderers to score as they have fewer spearheads up front. The Eagles have nothing to lose nor gain in this game, but with only four games left, the Wanderers just have pride on the line.

NIGHTCLIFF V TRACY VILLAGE

Sunday January 27, 10:00am

PSC BM Oval

Tracy Village pulled out of last week’s match against the Southern Districts. This week, the Razorbacks should be more than ready to face the bottom-of-the-ladder Tigers. If the Tigers are to win this match, they must negate the influences of Kristy Irvine and Zhoe Clarke. Despite the fact that both teams lack key position players, Clarke and Irvine have the ability to carry the Razorbacks over the line. The Tigers may not have this privilege as Chloe Scheer‘s duties to the Adelaide Crows might cause her to miss the rest of the season.

ST MARYS V DARWIN BUFFETTES

Sunday January 27, 12:00pm

TIO Stadium

Last weekend, the Buffettes failed to play four quarters of football in their loss to Palmerston. This is due to missing players in Tikesa Docherty-Cole, Jasmine Anderson and Nicky Anderson. Darwin will be very keen to get these players back fit and firing. Machaelia Roberts and Kylie Duggan were everywhere against the Magpies, but lacked support for their efforts. They may not need to much support, as St Marys will be down a few players themselves. If Saints stars, Jasmyn Hewett and Danielle Ponter did not have responsibilities to the AFL Women’s competition, this would be an intriguing match. Unfortunately, that’s not the case and the Buffettes seem overwhelming favourites.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS

Monday January 28, 12:00pm

Asbuild Oval

The Southern Districts have played only one game in the last four rounds. This match will be a difficult one to win for the Crocs, as the Magpies have been running elite teams off their legs. Freda Puruntatemeri shifted into a new gear last week, kicking crucial goals for her side. Lateesha Jeffrey will need to lock down this sharpshooter quickly before she gets a taste of the scoreboard. Despite this, the main concern for the Crocs is the Pies’ midfield. Jessica Stassi, Tabitha May, and Natasha Mebury are all unique as they each bring something different to the table. Stassi’s bollocking clearance work, May’s skill at ground level, and Medbury’s ability to push forward make a very unorthodox yet deadly combination. Tahlia Holtze and Ebony Miller will have to push themselves beyond their limits to combat this formidable trio. If the Crocs can show their earlier form from this season, Palmerston could be in for a shock. However, the Southern Districts will play as the underdog this round due to the Magpies’ current wining streak.

A strange turn has occurred in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s competition as Tracy Village forfeited its match against the Southern Districts. Three games continued after the shock withdrawal, as the Palmerston Magpies and the Darwin Buffettes duelled on a muggy day. The Buffettes started off well but the Magpies’ persistence would deny them a victory. St Marys fought off a hungry Wanderers to claim four premierships points, but the Eagles not going down without a fight shows they still have pride. In the final game, the Warriors only allowed Pint to score one point and crushed the Ants.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 10.0 (60)TRACY VILLAGE 0.0 (0)

Southern Districts won by forfeit.

DARWIN BUFFETTES 0.1 I 2.2 I 5.3 I 5.3 (33)PALMERSTON MAGPIES 0.2 I 2.4 I 4.4 I 7.6 (48)

On a damp ground, the Magpies managed to wear down the Buffettes to a 15-point win. The match started off very sluggish as a tug of war, so neither team kicked a goal in the first quarter. Kylie Duggan and Machaelia Roberts clicked into gear in the second term, as Darwin scored two majors in a row. The lead was short lived as Freda Puruntatameri showed some brilliance inside 50 with a classy snap around the corner followed by a Jackie Chan-like goal, which put the Pies back in front. Undisciplined action would cause the Pies to lose the lead in the third tern, as two 50 metre penalties had undone Palmerston’s hard work. In the final quarter, Jessica Stassi would change the tide as she kicked her first major of the day. Janet Baird was next to pop up to boot two goals of her own, giving her team a decent buffer during the final minutes. Natasha Medbury kicked the final goal late to put the result beyond any doubt. Darwin was competitive early but simply ran out of legs against a younger team. Palmerston will face the Southern Districts this week in what should be another heavyweight match.

WANDERERS 1.2 I 1.2 I 1.2 I 4.6 (30)ST MARYS 2.3 I 4.7 I 4.9 I 5.9 (39)

With the Adelaide Crows practice match occurring on the same day, St Marys entered this match without the support of some of their stars. It mattered little as Alana Coombes stole the show, kicking three majors on the day. Coombes has been in good strides recently and is close to becoming one of the elite goal-crumbers in the competition. She was well supported by the efforts of Katherine Dann, who kicked two of her own. The Saints forwards controlled the scoreboard for the first three quarters, but a late charge by the Eagles saw a close match. In the end, it was too little too late for the Eagles as St Marys claimed the win.

After their previous loss, the Warriors sharpened their spears last weekend and went hunting. Pint never got in the game, as defensive efforts by Sharona Bishop and Molly Cooper saw the Queen Ants score only one point for the game. Amy Chittick and Breanna Martin kicked six goals between them while Sue Nalder booted a pair of her own. The Queen Ants may have locked in their finals spot, but if they don’t believe they belong there they may fall out in the first elimination final.

IT is Round 14 of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s competition and with finals five weeks away, the contenders for this season’s premiership are becoming obvious. Up first, Southern Districts return to take on Tracy Village. The Crocs were average in their first match back from the holiday break, but with the Razorbacks’ current record, the Crocs may dine on Bushpigs. The following match is the main event where the Darwin Buffettes face the Palmerston Magpies. The Buffs’ have enjoyed an easy run of victories lately, but on Saturday, they could receive a wake-up call from the Pies. At the same time at TIO Oval, St Marys will battle the Wanderers. The Saints will be eager to continue their good patch of football. Lastly, reigning premier, Waratah wounded from their previous defeat, needing a convincing win over Pint.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V TRACY VILLAGE

Saturday January 19, 10:00 am

Norbuilt Oval

If the Crocs ever needed a tune-up match, this is it. Southern Districts forwards, Tayla Thorn and Charlie Deegan have been missing in action in recent games. The Crocs would be very anxious to get this pair up and firing this week. Tracy Village’s defence was overwhelmed by the Saints’ pressure last weekend and if Thorn and Deegan kick straight, it could prove disastrous for Tracy Village. Razorbacks midfielders, Kristy Irvine and Zhoe Clarke know how to win the clearances, but their forwards are always last to the ball. This must not happen against the Crocs’ backline because Lateesha Jeffrey will send the ball 50 metres in the opposite direction. The Southern Districts’ main problem has been accuracy in front of goal, and they will need to tighten up their skills before they meet Palmerston next week.

PALMERSTON V DARWIN BUFFETTES

Saturday January 19, 4:00 pm

Asbuild Oval

After the Magpies defeated the reigning premiers last Sunday, it is hard to choose a favourite for this match. Darwin has not beaten Waratah all year, but the Magpies will provide a good challenge. Palmerston should be welcoming back Tabitha May after a stint on the sidelines. May, Natasha Medbury and Janet Baird will face possibly the most balanced midfield in the competition. The main threat for the Pies is Machaelia Roberts, whether playing forward, midfield or half-back, she can prove a menace on the ground. However, she is not the only problem. Jemma Iacono, Dominique Carbone, Kylie Duggan and Tikesa Docherty-Cole are very capable of picking up the slack. This is another game where it could be head or tails, yet the Buffettes might have more to play for after their easy run of wins.

ST MARYS V WANDERERS

Saturday January 19, 4:00 pm

Tio Oval No. 2

It hs been a long hard season for the Eagles. Under-18 representative, Arthurina Moreen has proven to be the standout for the Wanderers up forward. Unfortunately for Moreen, she has not had the midfield to feed her. With the added support from the Adelaide Crows (Danielle Ponter, Jasmyn Hewett, and Ailish Cosidine), St Marys should prove too powerful for the Wanderers. Mathematically, the Saints can make finals, but logically a win here is just a consolation prize.

WARATAH V PINT

Sunday January 20, 11:30 am

Gardens Oval

Pint is one win away from securing a top five spot. The only problem for the Queen Ants is they must defeat Warratah on Sunday. Normally Waratah would come in as heavy favourites, but with players like Madeline Reisinger, Sherayn and Christine Puruntatameri possibly missing another week, Pint has a chance. Erin Hetherington has been sensational across half-back, carrying as much influence as Cassie Henderson does in the midfield. However, Warriors stars, Lisa Roberts, Madeline Gault, Lauren O’Shea and Sharona Bishop are still a very lethal combination. If the Queen Ants manage to pull off the win, it will provide serious momentum for them in the upcoming weeks.

LAST weekend’s round of footy saw one upset in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s while the rest of the top teams crushed their opposition. The Buffettes showed the Wanderers no mercy last Saturday as the Darwin stampede proved too much for the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Saints roasted the Razorbacks after another disappointing result for Tracy Village. Nightcliff was the next to fall to Pint, the Queen Ants seem to have regained their competitive edge. On Sunday, however, the trend of favourites would fall to the underdog. The Palmerston Magpies defeated the reigning premiers Waratah in a thriller by two points.

DARWIN BUFFETTES 3.3 I 8.4 I 11.7 I 13.11 (89)WANDERERS 0.1 I 1.2 I 1.2 I 1.4 (10)

When Darwin defeated Nightcliff the previous week, the damage could have been much more extensive. This time the Buffettes made use of every scoring shot they had. Zoe Anderson was the star with four goals to her name, Melinda Taylor kicked two with the rest of the Buffs being single contributors. Machaelia Roberts was electricity running through the ground, the Eagles had no one to who could catch her. Under 18 representative Authurina Moreen was the Eagles only goal kicker while the Buffettes had nine. Darwin has enjoyed a past few weeks of easy victories, but this week they will have to face the Magpies who have just toppled Waratah. Palmerston will be no easy kill as this match could prove to be the game to watch.

TRACY VILLAGE 0.1 I 0.1 I 1.1 I 3.1 (19)ST MARYS 0.2 I 1.6 I 4.10 I 6.14 (50)

On Saturday, St Marys unveiled an arsenal of Adelaide Crows that took control of the midfield and left the Razorbacks in their wake. The group was comprised of Danielle Ponter, Jasmyn Hewett, and Irish talent Ailish Considine who got her first taste of Australian football. Considine contributed well and Ponter was outstanding, while some women looked clumsy Ponter was slick. Hewett was no different, as the tall timber contested well in the ruck and racked up disposals like a common rover. Alana Coombes was another who shined for the Saints kicking two goals for the day. Coombes would have kicked a bag if she was more accurate in front of goal. The highlight of the match saw Ponter and Kristi Irvine go head-to-head in the last quarter. Irvine’s clearance efforts were impressive, but Ponter’s composure and skill through traffic were nothing short of superior. The Saints now have a sniff and with the top five spots now deciding finals, the next few weeks very interesting.

In a slow start to the first term, Pint clicked into gear during the second. Cassie Henderson continued her follow-up work from Tracy Village by racking up the disposals and booting two goals. Forward Louisa Bahen Wright slotted a pair of her own majors while Danielle Suddaby provided a good target as well. The Queen Ants drifted off in the third quarter, but with Nightcliff unable to inflict any real damage, the game was never in doubt. Pint’s inconsistency of not playing all four quarters may prove costly in the future. This effort against the elite teams of the competition simply will not do.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES 2.1 I 5.1 I 5.1 I 7.1 (43)WARATAH 0.3 I 3.4 I 5.4 I 5.5 (41)

Sundays was the heavyweight game of the round and it did not disappoint. From the opening quarter, the Pies started off with a bang kicking the first two whilst keeping Waratah goalless in the first quarter. Waratah would bounce back in the next two terms as the combined efforts of Lauren O’Shea and Sharona Bishop saw Warratah hit the front. It seemed like history was about to repeat itself, but Natasha Membury’s Pies fought back in the last quarter to win the match. It is a defining win for Palmerston, they have now beaten all top five teams, proving they are a real premiership threat.